SNOW REMOVAL & DISPOSAL POLICY

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1 PHILIP D. MURPHY Governor SHEILA Y. OLIVER Lt. Governor DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Mail Code B Division of Water Quality 401 E State St P.O. Box 420 Trenton, NJ CATHERINE R. MCCABE Commissioner NOVEMBER 15, 2018 SNOW REMOVAL & DISPOSAL POLICY PURPOSE: To establish consistent policy on available snow disposal options that is acceptable to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This policy provides guidelines to all government agencies, entities that provide essential services, and private businesses regarding site selection, site preparation and maintenance, and emergency snow disposal. Please note that Emergency Snow Disposal Procedures are only available to public agencies and entities that provide essential services; private facilities are NOT authorized to dispose of snow directly into a water way. APPLICABILITY: These guidelines apply to government agencies, entities that provide essential services and private businesses disposing of snow in the State of New Jersey. INTRODUCTION: Finding a place to dispose of collected snow poses a challenge to municipalities and businesses as they clear roads, bridges, sidewalks and parking lots. While we are all aware of the threats to public safety caused by snow, collected snow that is contaminated with road salt, sand, litter, and automotive pollutants, such as oil, could also threaten public health and the environment. As snow melts, road salt, sand, litter, and other pollutants are transported into surface water or through the soil where they may eventually reach the groundwater. Road salt and other pollutants can contaminate water supplies and are toxic to aquatic life at certain levels. Sand washed into waterbodies can create sand bars or fill in wetlands and ponds, impacting aquatic life, causing flooding, and affecting our use of these resources. There are several steps that communities can take to minimize the impacts of snow disposal on public health and the environment. These steps will help communities avoid the costs of a contaminated water supply, degraded waterbodies, and flooding. Everything we do on the land has the potential to impact our water resources. The purpose of these guidelines is to help New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity Employer l Printed on Recycled Paper and Recyclable

2 municipalities and businesses select, prepare, and maintain appropriate snow disposal sites before the snow begins to accumulate through the winter. RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES These snow disposal guidelines address: (A) Site Selection; (B) Site Preparation and Maintenance; (C) Mechanical Snow Melter Discharge; and (D) Emergency Snow Disposal Procedures (only available to public agencies and entities that provide essential services. Authorizations issued to public agencies that lease to private facilities operations do not extend to their lessees. Under no circumstances are private facilities authorized to dispose of snow directly into a water way.) A. SITE SELECTION UPLAND LOCATIONS The key to selecting effective snow disposal sites is to locate them adjacent to or on pervious surfaces in upland areas away from water resources and wells. At these locations, the snow melt water can filter into the soil, leaving behind sand and debris which can be removed in the springtime. The following areas must be avoided: 1) Any waterbody, including rivers, the ocean, reservoirs, ponds, or wetlands. In addition to water quality impacts and flooding, snow disposed in open water can cause navigational hazards when it freezes into ice blocks. In the event of a declared emergency, limited approval may be granted to utilize water bodies (see Emergency Snow Disposal Procedures below). 2) Areas adjacent to a public water supply well or reservoir. 3) Sanitary landfills. Snow melt water will create more contaminated leachate in landfills posing a greater risk to groundwater. 4) Storm drain catch basins or stormwater drainage swales or ditches. Snow combined with sand and debris may block a storm drainage system, causing localized flooding. A high volume of sand, sediment, and litter released from melting snow also may be quickly transported through the system into surface water. Site Selection Procedures Upland Locations NJDEP Snow Removal & Disposal Policy Page 2 of 5

3 It is important that both public and private entities work together to select appropriate snow disposal sites. The following steps should be taken: a) Estimate, based on historic snowfall records and experience, the amount of snow disposal capacity needed for the season, so that an adequate number of disposal sites can be selected and prepare. ( b) Select sites located in upland locations that are not likely to impact sensitive environmental resources first. c) Identify and mark/delineate sites that could potentially be used for snow disposal, such as municipal open space (e.g., parking lots or lawns). B. SITE PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE In addition to carefully selecting disposal sites before the winter begins, it is important to prepare and maintain these sites to maximize their effectiveness. The following maintenance measures should be undertaken for all snow disposal sites: 1) Securely place a silt fence or equivalent barrier on the down gradient side of the snow disposal site. 2) Maintain a 50-foot vegetative buffer strip between the disposal site and adjacent waterbodies to filter pollutants out of the snow melt water. 3) Clear debris from the site prior to using the site for snow disposal. 4) Clear debris from the site and properly dispose of debris at the end of the snow season and no later than May 1. C. MECHANICAL SNOW MELTER DISCHARGE In addition to selecting, preparing and maintaining sites prior to the winter, the entity should ensure that any planned discharge resulting from snow melting operations meets the following conditions: 1) All discharges resulting from snow melting operations must comply with the lawful requirements of federal agencies, municipalities, counties, and other local agencies regarding any discharges to storm drain systems, conveyances, or other water courses under their jurisdiction. NJDEP Snow Removal & Disposal Policy Page 3 of 5

4 2) If the discharge is to a storm sewer or combined sewer system (CSS), the owner/operator of the mechanical snow melter must, prior to discharge, notify and obtain approval from the owner of the conveyance system of the date, approximate time, location, and duration of the discharge(s). The guidance included in this document does not reduce the existing authority of the owner of a storm sewer or CSS, or other local agency from prohibiting or placing additional conditions on the discharge. 3) If the discharge is to a CSS, the snow melter must not be operated or be allowed to discharge during wet weather events. Further, the discharge to a CSS must be upstream of the wet weather regulator or other point of diversion. 4) Direct discharges of melted snow into water bodies are prohibited. A filter bag or similar filtration device must be used to remove suspended solids and debris. This device should be used and maintained in accordance with the manufacturers specifications. Solids collected in a mechanical snow melter must be disposed of in a proper manner. 5) The discharge and associated runoff should be routed so that it does not cause any erosion. 6) The discharge shall not result in flooding of neighboring property, streets, gutters or storm sewers. 7) The discharge must be diverted from building foundations or other areas that may be damaged from ground settling or swelling. 8) The discharge must be visibly clear and not contain floating or solid materials. 9) A visible sheen must not be evident in the discharge. 10) The addition of cleaning materials or chemicals (such as deicers) during snow melting activities is strictly prohibited. For further information, contact the Municipal and General Storm Water Permitting Unit in the Bureau of Nonpoint Pollution Control, Division of Water Quality at NJDEP Snow Removal & Disposal Policy Page 4 of 5

5 D. EMERGENCY SNOW DISPOSAL This disposal option is only available to public agencies and entities that provide essential services. Authorizations issued to public agencies that lease to private facilities operations do not extend to their lessees. Under no circumstances are private facilities authorized to dispose of snow directly into a water way. As mentioned earlier, it is important to estimate the amount of snow disposal capacity you will need so that an adequate number of upland disposal sites can be selected and prepared. Under extraordinary conditions, after all land-based snow disposal options are exhausted, disposal of snow from public roadways and essential facilities (i.e. hospitals, fire departments, police departments) that is not obviously contaminated with road salt, sand, and other pollutants may be allowed into certain water bodies under certain conditions. In these cases, municipalities, counties, and other public agencies are required to obtain NJDEP authorization to dispose of snow directly into a waterway. In no event does authorization extend to private entities or other entities operating at a public facility or their lease holders. Authorization should only be requested to provide disposal needs necessary to maintain roadways and other areas at essential facilities to maintain operations and safe conditions. Authorizations can be requested by contacting the DEP Hotline at: WARNDEP ( ). An emergency authorization will only be issued when the following criteria are met: All land-based snow disposal options are exhausted. Snow to be disposed is not obviously contaminated with road salt, sand, and other pollutants. The proposed snow disposal location has and is expected to have open water with adequate flow and mixing to prevent ice dams from forming. Snow will not be disposed in wetlands, shellfish beds, small streams, or drinking water reservoirs/d&r canal. Snow will not be disposed where trucks may cause shoreline damage or erosion. Snow will not be disposed above or at drinking water system intakes which may block or reduce flow into the treatment facility. NJDEP Snow Removal & Disposal Policy Page 5 of 5